Taxis and Safety

David Kurten: Transport for London has mandated that all public transport workers, including taxi and private hire drivers must wear a face covering. Could the Mayor explain why bus drivers are exempt from this instruction and why this same exemption is not granted to taxi drivers, who are also protected by a perspex screen - the same as bus drivers.

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) and I take the safety and health of employees, contractors, licensees and everyone who uses TfL services very seriously.
During the coronavirus pandemic bus (driver assault) screens have been subject to a number of additional mitigation measures following research conducted by University College London. These measures include the application of vinyl film at the start of the pandemic to close communication holes in the screens and more latterly the closure of the opening at the base of the screen that was formerly used for making cash payments. The resulting screens provide a level of protection for bus drivers in the driving cab that means they are not required to wear a face covering, although it remains the case that if bus drivers wish to wear a face covering they can do so.
The screens in taxis do not provide a fully sealed compartment which completely separates the driver from the passenger. In addition, the passenger in a taxi or private hire vehicle is in much closer proximity to the driver (particularly as seats near the driver in buses are sealed off) and in many cases for a much longer period of time, than a passenger in a bus.
Buses are also in direct control of TfL and its bus operators therefore it is possible for TfL to make adaptations and be confident they will remain in place. TfL cannot make wholesale changes to screens in all taxis and were it to do so, it could not guarantee they would remain unaltered or in place.
Transport for London (TfL) engaged with the Scientific Technical Advisory Cell (STAC) and obtained specific guidance on the safe operation of taxis and private hire vehicles (PHV) during the coronavirus pandemic (published in full in TPH Notice 07/20). On partitions or screens in taxis and private hire vehicles STAC stated:
There is no evidence available that demonstrates that partitions in taxis or PHVs reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 infection. Partitions in taxis or PHVs do not provide a fully sealed compartment which completely separates the driver from the passenger. Therefore, whilst it is possible that partitions may reduce the risk of transmission of infection, the risk would not be eliminated entirely. It is not possible for the STAC or PHE to assess the likely effectiveness of screens in reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in taxis or PHVs.
Considering the STAC advice and following the Government’s announcement that it was to mandate the wearing of face coverings on public transport from Monday 15 June, TfL issued TPH Notice 08/20 which contained guidance for licensees that was aligned with that issued by government. This was reiterated in TPH Notice 10/20 which states that taxi and private hire drivers are expected to wear face coverings at all times when in their taxi or private hire vehicle, unless they have a valid exemption.
This has been introduced as a safety measure to provide additional protection to both licensees and taxi and private hire passengers.
Studies by the Office for National Statistics and Public Health England found that taxi and private hire drivers are among the higher risk occupations for coronavirus deaths, so it is vital that all taxi and private hire drivers and their passengers wear face coverings.

Richard Desmond

Caroline Pidgeon: An article in the Sunday Times on the 21 June 2020 contains the following quote from RichardDesmond “I’ve been to dinner with Sadiq Khan and his wife.”However, any examination of your diary since 2016 does not appear to show such an event taking place.Due to the seriousness of the issues relating to the planning process for the Westferry Printworks will you clarify whether this statement made by Richard Desmond is correct and if so please provide the date and other details about when this event took place and for what purpose.

The Mayor: I have committed to publishing my diaryas part of my commitment to openness and transparency. Referencing the online publication of my diary, on 8 March 2017 I attended the Outward Bound Trust dinner at Buckingham Palace. The Outward Bound Trust is an educational charity that uses the outdoors to help develop young people from all walks of life. The dinner was hosted by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh who is a Patron of the charity and my wife and I were seated at the same table as Mr Desmond and his wife. I believe this is the occasion Mr Desmond references as I have no other recollection of being seated with him for dinner. In line with the GLA’s Gifts and Hospitality guidance, I declared the provision of dinner by the Trust to the Monitoring Officer.